Karnataka legislative council passes Bill to regulate hoardings, levy advertisement fee
Bengaluru, Mar 18 (PTI): The Karnataka legislative council on Wednesday passed two amendment Bills related to advertisement in urban areas and the transfer of police officers.
Both the bills were adopted by the Karnataka Assembly on March 16.
The Karnataka Municipalities and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was moved by the state Urban Development and Town Planning Minister B S Suresha were aimed at regulating outdoor advertisements and enabling municipal bodies to levy and collect fees on hoardings and billboards across the state.
Suresha tabled the bill in the council for adoption.
The members of the ruling and opposition parties discussed the bill extensively, after which it was cleared by the House.
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The Karnataka Police (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by the Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, empowers the Police Establishment Board (PEB) to immediately transfer police officers up to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) for misconduct, negligence, or dereliction of duty.
This amendment allows for action before the mandatory two-year tenure expires. The Act covers cases of "misconduct or gross negligence or dereliction of duty or an act of moral turpitude".
The Police Establishment Board (comprised of senior officials) is authorised to take action directly rather than waiting for lengthy government approval, aiming to reduce political interference and speed up disciplinary actions.
The move is intended to handle recurring irregularities and corruption, including scenarios where officers are trapped by the Lokayukta police and improve efficiency.
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The legislation, introduced by state Home Minister G Parameshwara, ensures tighter discipline within the police force while providing a cleaner legal mechanism for moving officers.
Karnataka Planning and Statistics Minister D Sudhakar tabled the Karnataka Regional Imbalances Redressal Committee report, which was prepared by a panel headed by economist M Govinda Rao.
The report identified 93 "most backward" taluks among 236 in the state, with 60 per cent of them concentrated in North Karnataka, particularly in Kalaburagi and Belagavi divisions.
This report highlights that, despite significant expenditure, regional disparities persist, with 75 per cent of all taluks facing some form of imbalance.
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Indian vessel 'Jag Laadki' carrying over 80,000 MT crude oil reaches Gujarat's Mundra Port
Ahmedabad, Mar 18 (PTI): Indian-flagged tanker 'Jag Laadki', carrying around 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Wednesday amid the West Asia conflict, officials said.
A day earlier, LPG carrier 'Nanda Devi' arrived at Vadinar port in Gujarat's Devbhumi Dwarka district, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, another vessel - 'Shivalik' - carrying LPG docked at Mundra Port.
Adani Ports, which operates Mundra Port, said in a statement that the crude oil carried by Jag Laadki was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and loaded at Fujairah Port there.
"Measuring 274.19 metres in length overall and 50.04 metres in beam, the tanker boasts a deadweight tonnage of approximately 164,716 tonnes and a gross tonnage of about 84,735 tonnes," it said.
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The tanker's arrival at the Mundra Port underscores the facility's critical role in handling substantial crude imports, it said.
"This delivery supports major refinery relies on such shipments to maintain operations and bolster India's energy security during supply disruptions in the region," Adani Ports added.
The port provided the safe berthing of the vessel and maritime coordination in safeguarding vital energy lifelines of India, it said.
Fujairah Port in UAE faced drone and missile attacks during the ongoing Israel-US and Iran war.
India imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil, 50 per cent of natural gas and 60 per cent of LPG needs. Before the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran's retaliation, more than half of India's crude imports, about 30 per cent of gas and 85-90 per cent of LPG imports came from Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The conflict has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. While India has partly offset crude supply disruptions by sourcing oil from countries including Russia, gas supplies have been curtailed to industrial users and LPG availability to commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants has been reduced.
